Page 60 of Anyone But the Superstar

Ugh. No. Amanda is great.I’mthe worst.

I may have continued wallowing in the safety of Felix’s luxury SUV if it wasn’t for my phone ringing with a familiar New York number.

My sister-in-law wants to FaceTime.

‘Meow.’ Mikey paws the air in front of my phone.

‘Okay, okay.’ Sliding the call open, I angle the camera toward Mike. ‘Hey, Bell.’

Ignoring my greeting, Bell goes full-on cat momma. ‘Oh, there’s my sweet boy! There’s my darling.’ Bell’s baby-talk has me rolling my eyes. ‘Do you miss your mama? Because your mama misses you.’

Mike rolls onto his back, his junk lewdly on display.

‘Wow.’ Feeling like I’m shooting cat porn, I turn the camera towards me. ‘I guess he’s mad you ditched him.’

Bell pouts. ‘I didn’tditchhim. I allowed my husband to offer Mike a strategically timed vacation with his Aunt Lizzie.’ She leans back, her surroundings coming into focus.

‘You’re at Moore’s?’ I recognize Chase’s desk chair and view out the window behind her. After Stanley Winston Moore was ousted from his luxury conglomerate throne in Manhattan and sent to jail, I helped Bell and Alice redecorate his office, splitting the massive one into two – one for each brother.

No one mentioned splitting it three ways. Not that I wanted an office. Or even to work there. But I remember wondering if the lack of invite had less to do with my career goals and more to do with me no longer being a legitimate Moore.

‘Yes, it’s the only place Chase lets me get any work done.’

I blink out of my funk. ‘Really?’

‘Yeah, since I told him I was working from home today.’ She smirks. ‘Moore’s would be the last place he’d look.’

I nod, continually impressed with my sister-in-law’s business and marriage savvy. ‘Smart move.’

She flips her red hair back off her shoulder. ‘I know.’

‘My brother and Moore’s would be lost without you.’

Her red lips kick up on one side. ‘I know that too.’

Chuckling, I decide to take the opportunity to distract myself with something non cat or Felix related. ‘So what are you working on?’

‘Moore’s has hired my firm to handle new marketing materials for an in-house fashion collaboration they have lined up.’ Bell shuffles some papers in front of her. ‘Camilla Branson.’

I frown, the name somewhat familiar. Probably another actor. I guess I should watch more mainstream movies if I ever did decide to work at Moore’s. ‘Who’s that?’

When my brothers took over Moore’s, they modernized the outdated sales plan and revamped the stores offerings with plans for celebrity-collaborated capsule collections that Moore’s themselves would manufacture. It’s an exciting direction for a store that used to only sell other brands’ designs.

‘A Hollywood socialite. Did a reality TV show recently and became quite famous for her style.’

I scoff, all too familiar with the people who claim celebrity just because they’re rich. ‘That’senough to get her a collaboration with Moore’s?’ Though it explains why the name sounds familiar. It was probably one of many on the various invitee lists I helped my mother put together over the years when she was busy being New York City’s charity queen.

Bell considers the question. ‘Well, not usually, but lately she’s been linked to?—’

‘Whoa, dude.’ Not liking being ignored, especially by his mama, Mike climbs onto my lap, insinuating himself between me and the phone.

‘Aw, baby.’ Bell clasps her hands under her chin. ‘Youdomiss me.’

Tuning out my sister-in-law’s lovey-dovey nonsense, I get back to contemplating the Felix situation. Between the grudge holding, the kiss and today’s Mike-foolery, damage control is needed.

And yet, if I come clean to Ron about Mike beingmycat, that might make things worse for Felix. And being unable to take responsibility means I’m left with executing one hell of an apology. Words won’t be enough.

But I have no clue what to do for him. Even if I dipped into my unused account, Felix is just like my brothers – impossible to shop for. What do you get someone who already has the means to buy themselves whatever they want?

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